Lauriane Chomaz

• Professor
• Heidelberg University

We investigate the excitation spectrum and compressibility of a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in an infinite tube potential in the parameter regime where the transition between superfluid and supersolid phases occurs. Our study focuses on the density range in which crystalline order develops continuously across the transition. Above the transiti...

We report on a scheme for loading dysprosium atoms into a narrow-line three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT). Our approach replaces the conventional Zeeman slower with a two-dimensional (2D) MOT operating on the broad 421-nm line to create a high-flux beam of slow atoms. Even in the absence of a push beam, we demonstrate efficient loading...

We investigate the excitation spectrum and compressibility of a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in an infinite tube potential in the parameter regime where the transition between superfluid and supersolid phases occurs. Our study focuses on the density range in which crystalline order develops continuously across the transition. Above the transiti...

We theoretically investigate three-body losses in a single-component Fermi gas near a p-wave Feshbach resonance in the interacting, nonunitary regime. We extend the cascade model introduced by Waseem et al. [M. Waseem, J. Yoshida, T. Saito, and T. Mukaiyama, Phys. Rev. A 99, 052704 (2019)] to describe the elastic and inelastic collision processes....

We report on a new scheme for loading dysprosium atoms into a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D MOT) working on the narrow 626-nm intercombination line. Our innovative approach replaces the conventional Zeeman slower with a 2D MOT operating on the broad 421-nm line to create a high-flux beam of slow atoms. Even in the absence of a push bea...

Since the achievement of quantum degeneracy in gases of chromium atoms in 2004, the experimental investigation of ultracold gases made of highly magnetic atoms has blossomed. The field has yielded the observation of many unprecedented phenomena, in particular those in which long-range and anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions play a crucial role....

We theoretically investigate three-body losses in a single-component Fermi gas near a $p$-wave Feshbach resonance in the interacting, non-unitary regime. We extend the cascade model introduced by Waseem et al. [Phys. Rev. A 99 052704 (2019)] to describe the elastic and inelastic collision processes. We find that the loss behavior exhibits a $n^3$ a...

An accurate knowledge of the scattering length is fundamental in ultracold quantum gas experiments and essential for the characterization of the system as well as for a meaningful comparison to theoretical models. Here, we perform a careful characterization of the s-wave scattering length as for the four highest-abundance isotopes of erbium, in the...

Since the achievement of quantum degeneracy in gases of chromium atoms in 2004, the experimental investigation of ultracold gases made of highly magnetic atoms has blossomed. The field has yielded the observation of many unprecedented phenomena, in particular those in which long-range and anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions play a crucial role....

An accurate knowledge of the scattering length is fundamental in ultracold quantum gas experiments and essential for the characterisation of the system as well as for a meaningful comparison to theoretical models. Here, we perform a careful characterisation of the s-wave scattering length $a_s$ for the four highest-abundance isotopes of erbium, in...

We report on the observation and coherent excitation of atoms on the narrow inner-shell orbital transition, connecting the erbium ground state [Xe]4f12(3H6)6s2 to the excited state [Xe]4f11((4I15/2)0)5d(5D3/2)6s2(15/2,3/2)70. This transition corresponds to a wavelength of 1299 nm and is optically closed. We perform high-resolution spectroscopy to e...

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the response of a dipolar supersolid to a Bragg excitation at high-energy defined by the impulse approximation regime. We experimentally observe a continuous reduction of the response when tuning the contact interaction from an ordinary Bose-Einstein condensate to a supersolid state and ultimately...

In the short time since the first observation of supersolid states of ultracold dipolar atoms, substantial progress has been made in understanding the zero-temperature phase diagram and low-energy excitations of these systems. Less is known, however, about their finite-temperature properties, particularly relevant for supersolids formed by cooling...

We report on the observation and coherent excitation of atoms on the narrow inner-shell orbital transition, connecting the erbium ground state $[\mathrm{Xe}] 4f^{12} (^3\text{H}_6)6s^{2}$ to the excited state $[\mathrm{Xe}] 4f^{11}(^4\text{I}_{15/2})^05d (^5\text{D}_{3/2}) 6s^{2} (15/2,3/2)^0_7$. This transition corresponds to a wavelength of 1299...

A supersolid is a counterintuitive phase of matter that combines the global phase coherence of a superfluid with a crystal-like self-modulation in space. Recently, such states have been experimentally realized using dipolar quantum gases. Here we investigate the response of a dipolar supersolid to an interaction quench that shatters the global phas...

In the short time since the first observation of supersolid states of ultracold dipolar atoms, substantial progress has been made in understanding the zero-temperature phase diagram and low-energy excitations of these systems. Less is known, however, about their finite-temperature properties, particularly relevant for supersolids formed by cooling...

Activating transitions between a set of atomic internal states has emerged as an elegant scheme by which lattice models can be designed in ultracold atomic gases. In this approach, the internal states can be viewed as fictitious lattice sites defined along a synthetic dimension, hence offering a powerful method by which the spatial dimensionality o...

We present a theory for the emergence of a supersolid state in a cigar-shaped dipolar quantum Bose gas. Our approach is based on a reduced three-dimensional (3D) theory, where the condensate wave function is decomposed into an axial field and a transverse part described variationally. This provides an accurate fully 3D description that is specific...

High-energy scattering spectroscopy is a widely established technique for probing the characteristic properties of complex physical systems. Motivated by the recent observation of long-sought supersolid states in dipolar quantum Bose gases, I investigate the general relationships existing between the density contrast, the superfluid fraction, and t...

High-energy scattering spectroscopy is a widely-established technique for probing the characteristic properties of complex physical systems. Motivated by the recent observation of long-sought supersolid states in dipolar quantum Bose gases, I investigate the general relationships existing between the density contrast, the superfluid fraction, and t...

We present an experimental and theoretical study of the high-energy excitation spectra of a dipolar supersolid. Using Bragg spectroscopy, we study the scattering response of the system to a high-energy probe, enabling measurements of the dynamic structure factor. We experimentally observe a continuous reduction of the response when tuning the conta...

We present a theory for the emergence of a supersolid state in a cigar-shaped dipolar quantum Bose gas. Our approach is based on a reduced three-dimensional (3D) theory, where the condensate wavefunction is decomposed into an axial field and a transverse part described variationally. This provides an accurate fully 3D description that is specific t...

Dipolar interactions are ubiquitous in nature and rule the behavior of a broad range of systems spanning from energy transfer in biological systems to quantum magnetism. Here we study magnetization-conserving dipolar induced spin-exchange dynamics in dense arrays of fermionic erbium atoms confined in a deep three-dimensional lattice. Harnessing the...

A supersolid is a fascinating phase of matter, combining the global phase coherence of a superfluid with hallmarks of solids, e.g. a spontaneous breaking of the translational symmetry. Recently, states with such counter-intuitive properties have been realized in experiments using ultracold quantum gases with strong dipolar interactions. Here, we in...

We study the spectrum of elementary excitations of a dipolar Bose gas in a three-dimensional anisotropic trap across the superfluid-supersolid phase transition. Theoretically, we show that, when entering the supersolid phase, two distinct excitation branches appear, respectively associated with dominantly crystal and superfluid excitations. These r...

Activating transitions between a set of atomic internal states has emerged as an elegant scheme by which lattice models can be designed in ultracold atomic gases. In this approach, the internal states can be viewed as fictitious lattice sites defined along a synthetic dimension, hence offering a powerful method by which the spatial dimensionality o...

We study the spectrum of elementary excitations of a trapped dipolar Bose gas across the superfluid-supersolid phase transition. Our calculations, accounting for the experimentally relevant case of confined systems, show that, when entering the supersolid phase, two distinct excitation branches appear, respectively connected to crystal or superflui...

We measure the excitation spectrum of a stable dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate over a wide momentum range via Bragg spectroscopy. We precisely control the relative strength εdd of the dipolar to the contact interactions and observe that the spectrum increasingly deviates from the linear phononic behavior for increasing εdd. Reaching the dipolar-do...

By combining theory and experiments, we demonstrate that dipolar quantum gases of both Er166 and Dy164 support a state with supersolid properties, where a spontaneous density modulation and a global phase coherence coexist. This paradoxical state occurs in a well-defined parameter range, separating the phases of a regular Bose-Einstein condensate a...

Dipolar interactions are ubiquitous in nature and rule the behavior of a broad range of systems spanning from energy transfer in biological systems to quantum magnetism. Here, we study magnetization-conserving dipolar induced spin-exchange dynamics in dense arrays of fermionic erbium atoms confined in a deep three-dimensional lattice. Harnessing th...

By combining theory and experiments, we demonstrate that dipolar quantum gases of both $^{166}$Er and $^{164}$Dy support a state with supersolid properties, where a spontaneous density modulation and a global phase coherence coexist. This paradoxical state occurs in a well defined parameter range, separating the phases of a regular Bose-Einstein co...

We measure the excitation spectrum of a stable dipolar Bose--Einstein condensate over a wide momentum-range via Bragg spectroscopy. We precisely control the relative strength, $\epsilon_{\rm dd}$, of the dipolar to the contact interactions and observe that the spectrum increasingly deviates from the linear phononic behavior for increasing $\epsilon...

Many-body dipolar effects in Fermi gases are quite subtle as they energetically compete with the large kinetic energy at and below the Fermi surface (FS). Recently it was experimentally observed in a sample of erbium atoms that its FS is deformed from a sphere to an ellipsoid due to the presence of the anisotropic and long-range dipole–dipole inter...

Many-body dipolar effects in Fermi gases are quite subtle as they energetically compete with the large kinetic energy at and below the Fermi surface (FS). Recently it was experimentally observed that its FS is deformed from a sphere to an ellipsoid due to the presence of the anisotropic and long-range dipole-dipole interaction. Moreover, it was sug...

The concept of a roton, a special kind of elementary excitation, forming a minimum of energy at finite momentum, has been essential to understand the properties of superfluid $^4$He. In quantum liquids, rotons arise from strong interparticle interactions, whose microscopic description remains debated. In the realm of highly-controllable quantum gas...

We report on the realization of a strongly interacting Fermi gas with a dipolar spin mixture of fermionic erbium. Employing a lattice-protection technique, we prepare deeply degenerate Fermi mixtures of the two lowest spin states and perform high-resolution Feshbach spectroscopy. We identify a comparatively broad Feshbach resonance and precisely ma...

We realize a two-component dipolar Fermi gas with tunable interactions, using erbium atoms. Employing a lattice-protection technique, we selectively prepare deeply degenerate mixtures of the two lowest spin states and perform high-resolution Feshbach spectroscopy in an optical dipole trap. We identify a comparatively broad Feshbach resonance and ma...

The experimental realization of two-dimensional (2D) Bose gases with a tunable interaction strength is an important challenge for the study of ultracold quantum matter. Here we report on the realization of an optical accordion creating a lattice potential with a spacing that can be dynamically tuned between 11 and 2 μm. We show that we can load ult...

The experimental realization of 2D Bose gases with a tunable interaction strength is an important challenge for the study of ultracold quantum matter. Here we report on the realization of an optical accordion creating a lattice potential with a spacing that can be dynamically tuned between 11$\,\mu$m and 2$\,\mu$m. We show that we can load ultracol...

In a joint experimental and theoretical effort, we report on the formation of a macro-droplet state in an ultracold bosonic gas of erbium atoms with strong dipolar interactions. By precise tuning of the s-wave scattering length below the so-called dipolar length, we observe a smooth crossover of the ground state from a dilute Bose-Einstein condensa...

In a joint experimental and theoretical effort, we report on the formation of a macro-droplet state in an ultracold bosonic gas of erbium atoms with strong dipolar interactions. By precise tuning of the s-wave scattering length below the so-called dipolar length, we observe a smooth crossover of the ground state from a dilute Bose-Einstein condensa...

Anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions between ultracold dipolar fermions break the symmetry of the Fermi surface and thereby deform it. Here we demonstrate that such a Fermi surface deformation induces a topological phase transition -- so-called Lifshitz transition -- in the regime accessible to present-day experiments. We describe the impact of t...

Anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions between ultracold dipolar fermions break the symmetry of the Fermi surface and thereby deform it. Here we demonstrate that such a Fermi surface deformation induces a topological phase transition -- so-called Lifshitz transition -- in the regime accessible to present-day experiments. We describe the impact of t...

The Hubbard model underlies our understanding of strongly correlated materials. While its standard form only comprises interaction between particles at the same lattice site, its extension to encompass long-range interaction, which activates terms acting between different sites, is predicted to profoundly alter the quantum behavior of the system. W...

We show that for ultracold magnetic lanthanide atoms chaotic scattering emerges due to a combination of anisotropic interaction potentials and Zeeman coupling under an external magnetic field. This scattering is studied in a collaborative experimental and theoretical effort for both dysprosium and erbium. We present extensive measurements of their...

Phase transitions are ubiquitous in our three-dimensional world. By contrast most conventional transitions do not occur in infinite uniform two-dimensional systems because of the increased role of thermal fluctuations. Here we explore the dimensional crossover of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) for a weakly interacting atomic gas confined in a nov...

The dimensionality of a system strongly affects its physical properties; the phase transitions that take place and the type of order that arises depend on the dimension. In low dimensional systems phase coherence proves more difficult to achieve as both thermal and quantum fluctuations play a stronger role. The two-dimensional Bose fluid is of part...

We create supercurrents in annular two-dimensional Bose gases through a temperature quench of the normal-to-superfluid phase transition. We detect the amplitude and the chirality of these supercurrents by measuring spiral patterns resulting from the interference of the cloud with a central reference disk. These measurements demonstrate the stochast...

We present a general "fit-free" method for measuring the equation of state (EoS) of a scale-invariant gas. This method, which is inspired from the procedure introduced by Ku et al. [Science 335, 563 (2012)] for the unitary three-dimensional Fermi gas, provides a general formalism which can be readily applied to any quantum gas in a known trapping p...

We create supercurrents in annular two-dimensional Bose gases through a temperature quench of the normal-to-super uid phase transition. We detect the amplitude and the chirality of these supercurrents by measuring spiral patterns resulting from the interference of the cloud with a central reference disk. These measurements demonstrate the stochasti...

We present a general "fit-free" method for measuring the equation of state (EoS) of a scale-invariant gas. This method, which is inspired from the procedure introduced by Ku et al. [Science 335, 563 (2012)] for the unitary three-dimensional Fermi gas, provides a general formalism which can be readily applied to any quantum gas in a known trapping p...

Two-dimensional (2D) systems play a special role in many-body physics. Because of thermal fluctuations, they cannot undergo a conventional phase transition associated to the breaking of a continuous symmetry. Nevertheless they may exhibit a phase transition to a state with quasi-long range order via the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) mechani...

Absorption imaging with quasi-resonant laser light is a commonly used technique for probing ultra-cold atomic gases in various geometries. In this paper, we investigate some non-trivial aspects of this method when applying the method to in situ diagnosis of a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) gas. Using Monte Carlo simulations we study the modification of...

Absorption imaging with quasi-resonant laser light is a commonly used technique to probe ultra-cold atomic gases in various geometries. Here we investigate some non-trivial aspects of this method when it is applied to in situ diagnosis of a quasi two-dimensional gas. Using Monte Carlo simulations we study the modification of the absorption cross-se...

Using in situ measurements on a quasi-two-dimensional, harmonically trapped (87)Rb gas, we infer various equations of state for the equivalent homogeneous fluid. From the dependence of the total atom number and the central density of our clouds with chemical potential and temperature, we obtain the equations of state for the pressure and the phase-...